Rubber-cushioned heel



Patented Aug. -9, 1927o HARRY Gr. NORWOOD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 BALLOON RUBBER HEEL COMPANY, INC., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,

A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

RUBBER-CUSHIONED HEEL.

Application led January This invention relates to `improvements in rubber cushioned heels, and has .for its object to provide a heel which in addition to the resiliency of the rubber, is also provided with a cushion in the center thereof which adds elasticity and comfort to the heel when standing or walking. p

The invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter more fully set forth in the following specification and pointed out in detail inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,- I

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a shoe and heel, showing the rubber heel in section and against the shoe heel, before being secured in position.

Figure 2 is asimilar view to Figure 1 showing the position the rubber heel assumes when drawn up by the fasteners.

Figure `3 is a detail side elevation of the rubber heel.`

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudlnal section ofV Figure 3. p

Figure 5 is an inverted plan view ofl Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of Figure 3.

Referring to the acompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, and 1n which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, 1 designates the leather heel of the shoe to which the heel 2 is applied. The said heel 2 is formed of rubber and -is provided with an inclined outer edge 3 terminating on each side at the forward edge of the rubber heel, and a flat surface 4 adjacent; the said inclined edge and also extending across the forward end of the rubber heel. The inner surface of said rubber heel is formed with aI concavity 5 having a centrally disposed post 6 projecting upwardly therefrom and havin its upper edge terminating .on a plane with t e flat surface 4. The lower surface.: of the rubber heel 2 is conveXed in the center just below the concavity 5 and has a flat surface .7 extending around the outer edge which is provided with holes 8 provided with washers 9 through which the fasteners 10 project to hold the rubber heel un position on the shoe. 'Y

When the rubber heel 2 is to be applied to the shoe heel it is laced in the position shown in Figure 1 o the drawing, and then 15, v1925. serial no. as.

lug 6 will impinge against the lower surface v of the leather heel and when weight is brought to bear on the heel the said lug and conveXed lower surface will assume the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, thus producing a cushioned effect when vwalking' or standing, and afford a more comfortable heel than the solid rubber heel in general use. This because theV post 6, which is hollowed out on the upper end, offers comparativelyA slight resistance initially to the compression of the rubber heel due to the thin peripheral edge of the former being then in contact with the shoe heel. As the weight of the walker is brought down on the heel, however, the compression ofthe post 6 follows but the resistance to compression gradually increases due to the increasing thickness, lower down the post, ofthe annular portion resulting from cupping` or dishing the upper face of the post. Full compression o f the heel finally transfers the pressure to the full body of the post at which time resistance to depression 'ofthe under face of the heel is greatest. Thus, the particular form ofv post provided serves as a means .to increasingly resist upward pressure on the lower surface of the heel as well as to offer an abnormal resistance to upward pressure just prior to the convexed portion reachingthe lplane of the lower surfaceof the heel.

Without the post, the concavity 5 is sub--A stantially volumetrically equal to that portion'of theheel. constituting thevbulged or convexed portion'and thus the air chamber provided by the concavity .is sufficient to entrap the necessary quantity of air to effect a substantial resistance to upward move- 'ment of the bulged or convexed portion, this resistance being greater than that afforded l `by the material of the bulged or onvexed portion itself.l vHaving thus I claim is:

1. The combination described my iiwenuop, what lwir-,ii a supe having a heel, a cushion lift vsecured to the under face of the heel and having a concavity in its upper face and 'a substantial Convexity on its lower face, said cushion lift being provided within the concavity with a post having` itsupper end in the plane of the shoe heelythe post offering immediate resistance to the initial depression of the convexity` and' continued yand increasing resistance as the depression of the convexity is increased.

t 2. The combination with a shoe having a. heel, a cushion lift secured to the lunder face of the heel and lhaving a concavity in its upper face and a substantial convexity on u its lower face, said vcushion lift being provided within the concavity with a post having its upper end in the plane of the shoe heel, the post offering immediate resistance to the initial depression of the convexity and continued and Aincreasing resistance as the depression of 'the convexity is increased, the post .being hollowed out at the upper end to provide an 4annular extremity which is norlnallly in superficial Contact with the shoe' ee In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY G. NORWOOD. 

